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Chameleon Plant Flower Wikimedia Commons
Saururaceae

Chameleon Plant Flower

Houttuynia cordata

Adaptability.

Family
Saururaceae
Genus
Houttuynia
Native to
East Asia, Southeast Asia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
perennial
Height
0.5-1.5 ft
Sunlight
part shade to full sun
Soil
moist, rich
Water
high
Hardiness
5-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The plant's colorful foliage changes depending on light exposure, earning it the chameleon name.
  • In Vietnam it is known as 'fish mint' and is eaten raw as a salad herb.
  • Houttuynia cordata was one of the first plants to regrow after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
  • It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years to treat respiratory infections.
  • The plant spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes and can be very difficult to eradicate once established.

Color meanings

0

adaptability

1

resilience

2

versatility

Uses

  • culinary herb
  • traditional medicine
  • ground cover